We received such terrible news while we were at the cabin over Easter. We don't have great cellar service inside the cabin but I usually like that because I love that I can still go to a place where I can unplug and not look at screens. Friday morning, my sister called and asked if I have any update on the Rollman family. I didn't know anything was wrong with the Rollman family from church until Jody started telling me the news. Brad and Mimy, with their four children, were on their way to Myrtle Beach for a weekend vacation. Early that morning, they were struck by a truck and Carson (their 13 year old son) was thrown out of their vehicle and pronounced dead on the scene. Annika (their 10 year old daughter) was rushed off to the hospital and on life support. She had head injuries and because of the bad swelling, surgery was not an option. They were hoping she stays alive while being on life support until the family and hospitals could find organ donor patients in need. They hoped that Annika's organs could help save another life! The four others climbed out of the vehicle with no major hurts. Everyone was taken to the hospital except for Carson.
I just could not believe this news. This is a family from church that we know! The kids go to Sunday School together. Carson is such a funny kid! Just the Sunday before he came with the tips of his hair dyed and I thought to myself that Brad and Mimy are such cool parents to let him do this! Annika was a sweet girl and followed her mom around to help with any Sunday school details. Both of these children are Ashlyn and Austin ages and I CANNOT imagine this!
Annika fought hard but after a few hours she also passed away. Both children died on Good Friday. I found it hard to call this day "good" but at the funeral there was a comment made that Annika would have thought it would have been so cool to die on the same anniversary date as when Jesus died.
We thought that maybe our weekend plans would change and they sure did in our prayers and thoughts but because this accident happened in Maryland and near DC, there was much to prepare before any viewings or funerals would take place.
My heart thumped as I looked at the Instagram posts Mimy shared!!!!!
We took Ashlyn and Austin to the viewing. It was so touching to watch the photos on the screen as memories played while we waited in line to view the two coffins side by side. Both of our children grabbed a bracelet and animal squishy in memory of Carson and Annika.
The tears just ran for Ashlyn and Austin when they saw their friends in coffins. You could tell the children were beat up from the accident. The swelling in the faces were still there. Ashlyn wiped tears as she watched Alea and Alyssa without their siblings. Austin just cried and cried. I don't think he knew what to do with his emotions. It was just too sad to see children, their friends, now dead.
Some of our friends from church had mentioned going for ice cream after the viewing and just letting the boys and girls think through all of this and process this. It's a lot to take in for me let alone a child. Death can look scary for a child! Ashlyn wanted to go for ice cream but Austin just wanted to go home. He did say that if we go to Fox's Meadow, he would just stay out in the vehicle. We decided to go and spend time with our church family that are also grieving and Austin ended up coming inside, ordering ice cream and enjoying the moment. When we got back home, I told Austin that I would lay beside him in his bed until he fell asleep. We prayed for peace. We prayed for the mom and dad and siblings that now have to find a new normal!
Austin had no problem falling asleep. It was so sweet to see him cried out and yet drift off to sleep so fast. Ashlyn came over to our bed during the night and asked for prayer. I prayed for her and she went right back to bed. It was so hard for her to see this and watch Alea and Alyssa, two of her friends, deal with this.
We gave both of our kids the option of going to school or the funeral. You guessed it ... Austin said he's going to school and Ashlyn wanted to go with us to the funeral.
It was a sunny beautiful day. Many, many people gathered at Petra Church for the funeral service. The tears just fell when Brad and Mimy joined the worship team during songs and worship. Brad plays the drums and Mimy has a beautiful voice and loves to sing. I do not know how one finds the strength and energy to sing at your own children's (two children) funeral but they did! And they worshipped! They sang and cried all at the same time. It was a very moving service!!!!!
Memories were shared at the funeral. Mimy is a school teacher and Annika was one of her students this year. Teachers from Gehmans shared memories. Carson played football and young boys came in football jersey's. Carson and Annika's best friends shared and cried. To watch a 10 year old girl share about her bestie on her funeral day was just heart wrenching! Carson's best friend wrote a nice letter and he would read a line and pause and cry. Then he would read another line of his letter, pause and cry. So touching!
I don't ever remember watching two caskets being lowered in one big hole before. Two young children! Two children that loved their parents! These two children were both adopted and loved their family as their very own. Jesus please be near this family!!!!
We sang Jesus Loves Me This I Know at the graveyard along with many songs of heaven! Ashlyn throw flowers over the grave and Mike helped cover the graves with dirt.
